Sunday, February 7, 2016

2016 catalan professional riders

Catalan professional cyclists
Joaquim Purito Rodríguez
Joaquim Purito Rodríguez, born in Partes del Valles, is the most famous catalan rider nowadays, and one of the best riders ever. Winner of Giro de Lombardia years 2012 and 2013, winner of Fleche Wallone is 2012, Rodríguez has been able to be at the podium of all 3 Gran Tours: Vuelta a España (2nd in 2015, 3rd in 2012), Tour de France (3rd in 2013) and Giro d'Italia (2nd in 2012).
But he is not the only catalan professional rider. Purito, riding for russian Katusha team, has Alberto Losada as one of his "domestiques". Losada was born in Sant Just Desvern in 1982 and became professional in 2007.

Catalan professional cyclists
Marc Soler, winner of Tour de l'Avenir 2015
The new generation of catalan cyclists is lead by Marc Soler (winner of 2015 Tour de l'Avenir), a rider born in 1993 in Vilanova i La Geltrú (Barcelona). Soler is riding this year for Movistar team, the only spanish professional team at the moment. There is another catalan rider in Movistar, which is Antonio Pedrero, born in Terrassa in 1991.
David de la Cruz

Another catalan professional racer is David de la Cruz, riding for Ettix-Quickstep. David de la Cruz was born in Sabadell in year 1989 and has been a professional cyclist since 2010. Eduard Prades, born in Alcanar (Tarragona) in 1987 is also riding for Caja Rural Team.  His main victory was Coppa Sabatini last year 2015.

In addition to these 6 cyclists, there are quite a few professional cyclists living in Girona (such as Daniel Martin), but they were not born in Catalonia...